WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Adam Cohen and Clare Sheedy have been selected to address the class of 2019 at the Mount Greylock Regional School graduation ceremonies at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, in the school gymnasium. This will be the first graduation to be held in the new school building. Cohen, son of Richard Cohen and Cheryl Sacks of Lanesborough, was chosen by his peers to speak He is a National Merit Scholar Commended student and has been a member of both the lacrosse and wrestling teams. A member of the peer team and Big Sibling program, he mentored younger students and educated them on good health practices. He was a three-year member

DALTON, Mass. — With the impending renovation of Wahconah Regional High School, the 146 members of the class of 2019 were charged to keep the building's memory alive. Valedictorian Anna Duquette told her fellow classmates Sunday during graduation exercises in the packed gym that the school has served them well and that despite the trials they faced in the aging building, it was still their own experience. "I find it sad that as so many of us have worked so hard to make this building a better place that much of our work will go down with the building," she said, referencing the $72 million renovation that's planned. "Yet it is just not our

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williams College President Maud S. Mandel today conferred bachelor of arts degrees to local graduates at the college's 230th commencement. Mary-Claire King, an award-winning geneticist at the University of Washington who first discovered the breast and ovarian cancer gene, was the principal speaker.

Jonathan R. Hall, son of Mrs. Allison Hall and Mr. Brian Hall of Rockville Centre, N.Y., majored in chemistry and mathematics. Hall was the president of the Williams Outing Club and a Junior Advisor. He graduated with honors in chemistry, was a Fulbright Scholar, a Class of 1960s Scholar in Chemistry, Roche Fellowship recipient, Class of 1945 World

Geneticist Mary-Claire King tells the graduates not to narrow their focus but rather become immersed in society to use their abilities better. See more photos of the event here. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — On the day that brings one of the biggest changes to any individual's live, Williams College graduates Sunday were reminded that the biggest changes are yet to come. And they're inevitable. And they're inescapable. "Author and environmental activist Margaret Atwood wisely said that 'climate change' should be called 'everything change,' " Williams' Phi Beta Kappa speaker Ari R. Ball-Burack told his fellow members of

ADAMS, Mass. — In a graduation ceremony typically filled with pop culture references, charter school teacher Stephanie Watroba decided to turn one iconic movie moment on its head. Its green, wrinkly head. "A wise man once said ... it was Yoda," Watroba said, drawing a laugh at the reference to the Star Wars character. "A wise man once said, 'Do or do not. There is no try.' "I don't know what that means. "Try, please. Try all the time. Try all the things. Try new things. Try old things. Try trying things. Try trying not to try things. Let me know how that one goes. That one sounds interesting." Watroba was the

DALTON, Mass. — Anna E. Duquette and Holden M. Nelson have been named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for the 2019 graduating class at Wahconah Regional High School. Both students will speak at graduation ceremonies on Sunday, June 2, at 1 p.m. in the school gymnasium. The valedictory speech is titled, "When an Opportunity Comes Knocking ... " and the salutatory address, "The Importance of Hard Work." Duquette is the daughter of Dale and Lynn Duquette, both of Dalton. While at Wahconah, Duquette's academic program included Honors and Advanced Placement coursework. She is active in the many service projects sponsored by the National

LENOX, Mass. — Heroes unite. Perhaps a hero is a Harvard graduate improving and changing the world of social work and policy or perhaps it is the two children sitting in the Shed at Tanglewood watching their mom delivering the valedictory address for Berkshire Community College's commencement. But whomever it is, Soncere "Starr" Williams believes anybody can be a hero every day. "Heroes can come in different forms. Each one of us can become a hero as we embark on the adventure of life. Being a hero does not necessarily mean you have super powers like the ability to fly or super strength although that would be amazing," Williams told

DALTON, Mass. — St. Agnes Academy has announced the appointment of Fadia Rostom Makdisi of Pittsfield as principal, replacing long-time educator James Stankiewicz, effective July 1.

The Rev. Christopher Malatesta, pastor of St. Agnes Church, made the appointment while also reaffirming his unwavering commitment to the academy. He also announced the formation of an Executive Leadership Council, a group of experienced educators charged with the goal of growing the academy while maintaining high academic expectations and Catholic values and traditions.

A search committee selected Makdisi from a field of highly competitive candidates in a regional search.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Work at the new Mount Greylock Regional School will continue through the summer months, the School Committee learned last week. During a brief early evening open session on Wednesday, Superintendent Kimberley Grady told the committee that the middle-high school will again be an "active work site" after the planned last day of classes on June 24. The work will include taking care of some items still on the punch list since the school opened for classes in September, but it also includes the replacement of carpet tiles in several areas, including the band room, orchestra room, media center (library), main office, guidance suite and pupil